Charge transfer in Au nanoparticle-nonpolar zno photocatalysts illustrated by surface-potential-derived three-dimensional band diagram

Wan Hsien Lin, Jih Jen Wu, Mitch M.C. Chou, Yu Ming Chang, Masahiro Yoshimura

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23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Au nanoparticle (NP)-enhanced activity of a semiconductor in ultraviolet (UV) photocatalysis is generally observed. However, the photoinduced charge transfer behavior and the beneficial role of Au NPs in promoting photocatalytic reactions remain controversial. In the present work, the surface potentials (SPs) of Au NP-nonpolar ZnO composites in the dark and under UV irradiation were measured using Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). On the basis of the KPFM results, the surface photovoltages (SPVs) of Au NP-ZnO composites were obtained by calculating the difference between the SP values acquired under UV irradiation and in the dark. Three-dimensional band diagrams of the Au NP-ZnO photocatalysts after equilibrium in the dark and under UV irradiation were thus constructed. Accordingly, charge transfer between three fundamental interfaces, namely Au NP/ZnO, ZnO/solution, and Au NP/solution, in the tested photocatalytic system is clearly described. With the positive SPV values of photocatalysts, the excess holes in the photocatalyst under steady-state UV irradiation are likely the major contributor in the present work. Furthermore, the SPV values of the Au NP-ZnO photocatalysts, as an indication of average excess carrier concentration, show a systematic correlation with photocatalytic activity. This result suggests that the SPV value of a photocatalyst could be a reasonable index for the evaluation of photocatalytic activity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)19814-19821
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume118
Issue number34
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014 Aug 28

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • General Energy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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